Wire-coating machine



C. J. PERRY.

WIRE COATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED ma. II, Ism

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

J I -M i INVENTOR.

TTRNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J'. PERRY, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

WIRE-COATING MACHINE.

VSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

lie it known that l, CHARLES J. PERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, `Westchester county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Wire-Coating Machine, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention is a machine for applying a coating to strands of wire prior to winding the latter upon spools for sale and distri bution as a new article of manufacture.

ln the art of coating wire, it is usual to lead or run the strands drawn from supply spools throiigh a cleaning bath and a coating bath, the latter being usually a metal alloy (tin) in a molten condition, whereby the strands are coated with tin prior to winding such coated strands upon individual spools.

According to this invention, provision is -made for the rapid interchange of empty spools for the filled spools in the machine, and for the substitution of one spool for another without stopping the rotation of the winding spindle, whereby the operations of replacing the wound spools with empty spools may be performed rapidly and by utilizing the services of unskilled laborers to the end that economy in manufacture is attained.

The improvement is directed, mainly, to a demountable winding spool, or a series of such spools, together with means for coupling said spool or spools to their respective spindles, said spool coupling means being operable by or responsive vto the movement of the spool or spools in the act of mounting and dismounting the same; in other words, no separate operation of the clutching means is involved prior to' or during the operation of substituting one spool for another.

Broadly stated, the invention involves means whereby a spool is coupled to a driving spindle when mounted thereon and is uncoupled or released from said spindle in withdrawing or dismounting the spool, which operations are performed without arresting the rotation of the .spindle and, also. without requiring a separate operation of the clutching means. More specifically stated, the invention embodies a spindle, a winding spool demountable from the spindle, a clutch device of one form or another carried by the spindle and engageable with said spool for effecting' the of said specispindle, and

a pressure device of one form or another, preferably spring mechanism, the same actlngto retain the demountable spool in contact or engagement with said clutch mechanlsm, it being preferred to so relate the pressure or spring mechanism to the spool that these parts (the spool and the pressure device) are both demountable from and replaceable upon the spindle.

Other functions of the invention and the advantages thereof will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation partly broken away, of so much of a wire tinning machine as is necessary for an understanding of my invention. y

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the right.

Figs. 3 and t are detail views in elevation and vertical section respectively of one form of clutch suitable for use in connection with the winding spool.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6, and Fig 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of one spool and a form of clutch illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of another form of the spool and the clutch which may be employed.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the means for coiling strands of wire upon a series of spools, or upon two series of spools, includes a main frame A, a series of' spindles B, suitable means such as a gear train for imparting rotary motion to all the spindles, a traversing device including a frame C, and oneor more series of guides D for directing the strands of wire individually to the winding spools. It should be stated, and so understood, that uncoated strands of wire are drawn from suitable supply spools, and conducted through an appropriate cleaning bath, and thence conducted to and through a coating bath, the latter being composed usually of a metallic alloy, such as tin kept in a molten condition by the application of heat thereto; but as the means for performing the foregoing operations are ordinary in the art, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same herein, nor do I consider it desirable or necessary to further describe the same. i

As shown, the frame A is vertically po* sitioned, and as usual it is provided with bearings c for the spindles B, any desired number of which are employed, said spindles One spindle is shown as having a stepped pulley BV for the accommodationof a belt for driving the spindles and gear train, but

obviously other forms of power transmitter than the pulley may be utilized.

ihe traversing irame C and guides D are Vor may be of any form suitable for the purpose, and motion is imparted to the frame CV by any means known inthe art whereby the frame and the guides carried thereby arel shifted as required for directing the individual wire strands with respect to the spools in order to coil said strands uniformly and regularly uponthe spools, but as the frame C and guides l) together with the actuating means therefor are usual in the art, it is not considered necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

The machine herein illustrated as apreferred embodiment of the invention is adapted for the reception and operation of two series of winding spools designated at E, F, one series E `being located at one side of the machine and the other F at the opposite side thereof, but it will be understood that the machine may be constructed 'to utilizeone seriesofspools only, and 'that any desired number of spools may be employed in `each series, although the machine with the two series of' spools is preferred because of the increased capacity thereby attained. As shown, each spindle B is long enough to extend at the respective ends thereof through theV bearings c and beyond the opposite sides of the frame A, said extended or prolonged end portions of each spindle being adapted for the reception of two winding spools E F, one upon each end;

Each spool is in the form of a sleeve or Vhub with heads or Vflanges at the respective endsof the sleeve or hub, see Fig. 6, the heads being provided with axial openings c in alinement with the hub whereby the spool isV readily slipped upon theV extended end portion of a spindle B and is in like manner withdrawnV and dismounted therefrom, said end Vportion of the spindle being free from obstruction and exposed for ready access whereby the spool may with facility Y bemounted upon the spindle and Vbe dismounted therefrom. Y

Various. forms of coupling devices mayV be employed for coupling the spool to the spindleforthevpurpose of imparting to said.

bodies two members G Gr', the former being held fast on spindle B by a key g `(or equivalent) whereas the latter is loose on the spindle, said clutch members being Vprovided with teeth or shoulders g for mechanically interlocking the loose member G with the fast member G; rlhe loose clutch member G is slidable on the spindle for `effecting the interengaging and release of the loose member relatively to the fast membeigand in addition to said provision for2 mechanically interlocking the two clutch members, the slidable loose memberG is provided with means for frictioiial engagement with said demountable spool, in order that said spool may partake of the rotativemovement. of the spindle. Vi-is shown,'the clutch member G is provided with frictional material, such as rubber or the like, the same being in the form of plugs H seated in recesses /2 of the member G and thus lixedly and me- Vso that the desired frictional contact is not obtainable between the spool and the clutch member on the spindle. In view of the fact that the spindle is rotating continuously, and that the interchange of the spools must be effected without stopping the operation of the winding machine `as an entirety, lV have found that the mechanical clutch G G of Fig. 6 is a desirable-adjunct tothe machine, more particularly in case the friction face H is worn down torsuch an extent `that the spool -is not driven frictionally. In

suoli a case l use a spool of the kind shown Vin Figs. 3 and fl, the end face of which is 'provided with a dog j adapted to Venter a pocket as in the loose clutch member G. Obviously, the mechanical vengagement of the spool'E with the, clutchmember G cannot be advantageously effect-ed while the clutch rotates with the spindle. Accord. ingly, the loose clutch G is shifted out of y mechanical Contact with the fastfclutch member Gr which rotates with the spindle,'and

thus the loose clutch member G is permitted to remain stationary While the spool as E is placed upon the spindle, the .spring retainer l being fitted on said spindle by the same operation. Now with the clutch G at rest, the spool and retainer are moved along the rotating spindle so that the dog j Will either enter a pocket as j or be iittcd between tivo of the friction plugs H on clutch member G, the spool and the retainer being pressed along the spindle so that the loose member G is engaged mechanically With the member G and the spring retainer is gripped triotionally to the spindle so as to hold the parts in the required position,

Provision is made for retaining the spool in trictional engagement with the clutch member, thus insuring the desired rotation ci the spool with the spindle. Various forms of pressure devices may be employed, the one herein. shown being a spring retainer I, comprising a coiled spring reduced in diameter at one end portion, at c', in order that said.

spring retainer may frictionally grip the spindle or an extension B2 thereof. lVhen using the coiled spring retainer, it is preferred to use a stem B2 tapering at one end portion as at Z22 and threaded at the other end portion, see dotted lines at b3 in Fig. 6, said threaded part of the stem being screwed into a socket tapped in the extremity of spindle B, whereby the stem is attached iixedly to the spindle so as to partake of the rotation thereot' and to constitute an extension ci? the same, in axial alinement therewith, see Fig. G. rThe spring retainer l is provided. with a hund grip or other operating member '11 attached in a suitable way to the reduced part t' of the spring. The spring retainer envelops the outer part ot the eX- tension B2 of the spindle, so that the inner aart ot the retainer exerts pressure againstA the spool, a Washer 2 being interposed between the inner end part or the coiled spring retainer and one tace ot' the spool in order to minimize Wear on the spool. The taper o2 of the spindle extension permits the spool and the spring retainer to be readily slipped upon said spindle in mounting the spool thereon, Whereas the contracted outer part c' ot" the spring retainer is adapted for such trictional engagement With the spindle extension as to preclude any loose movement of the retainer, the latter thus acting etectively in exerting pressure upon the spool for holding the same into the desired trietional engagement 'with the friction plugs irl ot the loose clutch member G.

The spring retainers and spools are used on the respective end portions of the rotary soindle, and :tor this reason iind it desirable to Wind one spring retainer to the right hand the other spring retainer to the lett hand, each spindle being Wound of opposite bands,

the retainers Ator t ie opposite ends of;

Now, when a proper retainer is shoved onto one end of the spindle, the frictional Contact of the rotating spindle With the spring retainer has a tendency to expand the coiled 'etainer suiiiciently to permit it to slide easily along the spindle until the spool is shoved into frictional contact With the clutch member G and the latter is engaged with clutch member G, hand pressure being applied to the grip t' of the spring, but when the hand pressure is removed from the spring, then the part a' of said spring is in :trictional contact' with the taper b2 of the spindle extension so that the spring is held by frictional engagement in a relatively ixed position on the spindle.

rlhe spool is thus rotated with the spindle until. the desired amount of coated Wire is coiled thereon, after which the attendant cuts the Wire and thereafter proceeds to dismount the spool. This is done by pulling on the hand grip ffl so as to dislodge the spring retainer and remove it from.l the spindle, the filled spool following the rerainer or being pulled off the spindle, thereby dismounting said spool, at Which time the clutch member G slides along the spindle with the spool for a short distance and thereby disengages member G from member G. The attendant now proceeds to replace the iilled spool with an empty one, and this is el'ccted by sliding the empty spool upon the spindle until it contacts With the friction plugs otl the clutch member G. The spring retainer is replaced upon the spindle and moved thereon into the desired contact with the spool, which movement positions said spool into trictional contact with clutch member G and el'l'ects the mechanical interloclt o'j clutch member G with the complemental clutch member G, thus coupling the spool to the spindle for rotating therewith, said spring retainer being frictionally held upon the spindle and exerting pressure against the spool.

.lt should be stated that the number ot spools in each series exceeds by one the number ot strands to be coiled upon the spools, thus holding in reserve one spool. rThe strands oit Wire are coiled simultaneously on the spools` and when the latter are filled, the attendant proceeds to cut one strand and shitt the latter Yfrom the filled spool to the reserve spool, after which the tiret iilled spool is dismounted, replaced by an empty spool and then the next strand is cut and shifted to said empty spool, vand the operations are repeated until all the filled spools are removed and replaced by spools upon which the strands are undergoing the required ceiling operations. its a result, the replacement oi the spools is performed rapidly and With the expenditure a small amount of labor, and as the machine continues in opera ion during such repiaceria ment of the spools, a veryV considerable economy of time, labor and power is effected.

As stated, the forms of clutch may be modified; thus in Figs. 3 and et, the clutch member G is shown as being provided with a pocket or recess j, whereas the spool E is provided on one head thereof with a dog .7", the latter being made fast to the spool, and said spool being used in connection with a spring retainer as l, heretofore described. ln dismounting the spool, the retainer and the spool are pulled 0H thespindle, the dog j slipping freely out of the recess of the clutch member G', but when the )arts are replaced the dog j on the spool fits into the recess j of the clutch member, the operations being the same as heretofore described,

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. wherein the spindle is mounted in bearing c of frame A and a spool E2 is mounted on the spindle or its extension B2. A single clutch member L is provided with a hub Z so as to be fitted on the spindle, said hub being provided with a binding screw mf for clamping the clutch member iizredly to the spindle so as to partalre of the rotary movement thereof. l his clutch member, or as it may be termed a friction disl, is provided with friction material o in the form of plugs seated in recesses of the memberor disk as shownby dotted lines and thus fixedly attached thereto, and said friction plugs 0 are posed for frictional engagement with the end face of the spool E?. A spring` retainer' l composed of a wire coil provided with a hand. grip z" is used in connection with the spool as heretofore cescribed so to exert pressure against the spool and thus retain V*said spool in frictional contact with the member or dish L, Vllhe spring retainer and the spool are adapted for attachment to the spindle, and to be dismounted therefrom, as heretofore described, but in this embodiment of the invention l am enabled to dispense with the clutch member G or its equivalent, the part L Corresponding` to the part G except that saidpart G is now provided with the friction plugs and is adapted for cooperation directly with the winding spool.

Having thus fully described the invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .Patent l. In a spooling device, the combination with a spindle, and a spool demountable therefrom, of clutch means rotatable with the spindle and cooperating with said spool, and a spring retainer demonntable from the spindle with said spool, said spring retainer being provided with means for frictionally gripping said spindle whereby the retainer is connected with the spindle to remain in Voperative position thereon independently of separate fastening means.

2. ln a Vspooling device, the combination with a rotating spindle, ademountable spool, and a clutch rotatable with said spindle'and cooperating with the spool for imparting rotative movement thereto, of a spring retainer in operative contact with said spool for holding the latter in like relation to said clutch, said spring retainer being provided with means for frictionally gripping said spindle. t

ln a spooling device, the combination with a rotating spindle, and a clutch member rotatable therewith, of a demountable spool in'frictional contact with said clutch member, and a sprin retainer cooperating with said spool for gholding the latter in driving frictional contact with the clutch member, said spring retainer being provided with means for frictionally gripping said spindle, and said spring. retainer being demountable with the spool from said spindle without arresting the rotation of the latter.

4l. In a spooling device, the combination with a rotating spindle, and a clutch member rotatable therewith, of a demountable spool in frictional Contact with said clutch member, anda demountable spring retainer cooperating with said spool for holding the latter in driving contact with said'clutch member, said retainer being provided with means for frictionally gripping said spindle Vand said retainer being demountable with said spool from said spindle without arresting the rotary motion of said spindle.

ln a spooling device, the combination with a rotating spindle, and a clutch member, of a demountable spool cooperating with the clutch member, and a demountable retainer in operative relation to said spool, said retainer comprising a coiled resilient member one portion of which is reduced in diameter and adapted for frictionally gripping thel spindle whereby the retainer is held upon the spindle independently of separate fastening means and is adapted to be removed and replaced without arresting the rotary motion of the spindle. Y

6. ln a spooling device, a spindle provided with a tapering end portion, a clutch member rotatable with the spindle, a spool cooperating with the clutch member, and a coiled spring retainer provided with means for frictionally gripping said tapering end portion of the spindle, said spring retainer cooperating with the spool for holding itV in driving Contact with the clutch member, and said spool and the retainer being demountable from the spindle without arresting the rotary motion thereof.

7. In a spooling device, the combination with a rotating spindle, and a demonntable spool, of a clutch member rotatable with the spindle, said clutch member being provided Y Vwith friction material positioned for contact directly with an end face of said spool,

and a spring retainer coperating with said spool for holding it in driving contact With said clutch member, said spring retainer having means for rictionally gripping said spindle, said retainer and the spool being demountable from the spindle WithoutI arresting the rotary motion thereof.

8. In a spooling device, the combination With a rotating spindle, and a spool, of a clutch member positioned on the spindle for rictional contact with one end face of said spool, and a spring retainer positioned on the spindle for Contact with the other end face of the spool, said spring retainer acting to apply pressure to said spool for retaining the latter in driving contact with said clutch member, and said retainer having means for rictionally gripping the spindle.

9. In a spooling device, a rotatable spindle, a spool demountable therefrom, coupling means positioned for engagement with said spool to impart rotative movement thereto, and a spring retainer cooperating With said spool, said spring retainer being provided with means for frictionally gripping the spindle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of February,

CHARLES J. PERRY-` 

